Exploring Tasmania for AFCA

This trip is currently sold out. Contact us to get on the waiting list or for additional options. Discover the highlights of Tasmania in this 7-day nature-based tour. Departing Hobart, the tour takes you deep into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area in the West Coast. Tall trees, rainforests, and waterfalls are just some of the highlights of this remote region of Tasmania. The alpine mountain scenery of Cradle Mountain is world-class, and you’ll be amazed by the pristine coastlines at the Bay of Fires and Wineglass Bay. We are partnering with local guides to provide insights on local flora, fauna, and history.  This adventure is suitable for all levels of walking/hiking with options outlined below.

Highlights:
Russell Falls, Mount Field National Park, Lake St Clair  
Franklin River, Nelson Falls, Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
Iron Blow Lookout, Horsetail Falls, Queenstown
Gordon River Cruise, Strahan, Tullah
Cradle Mountain, Sheffield, Launceston
Bay of Fires, Cataract Gorge, St Helens, Bicheno
Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park, Cape Tourville
Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmanian Devils, Port Arthur Historic Site,  
Tasman National Park, Richmond
Advanced Eco-Certified Tour

Trip Dates: Friday, February 7 - Thursday, February 13, 2025 (not including travel to/from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia)
Cost: $1575 (based on double occupancy)*
Steep grade: 3/5 (options for choosing your level of activity)

*Guaranteed departure as minimum number of participants are registered

Friday, February 7 - Arrive in Hobart, Tasmania. 
- Hotel in Hobart

Saturday, February 8 - Hobart to Queenstown
Our first wilderness experience begins in Mount Field National Park where we’ll walk amongst some of the world’s tallest trees and the cascading Russell Falls. Continuing west we will visit Australia’s deepest freshwater lake, Lake St Clair, before traversing the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Here we’ll enjoy some short walks along the tannin-coloured waters of the Franklin River and Nelson Falls. Further west, past the vast buttongrass plains, vistas of Mt Lyell, the Iron Blow and Horsetail falls complete our day of stunning scenery. We overnight in Queenstown, once a historic mining town, now a thriving West Coast destination. Dinner included

Overnight: Queenstown

Walking options: 
Mount Field – 20 minutes to 90 minutes (Tall Trees to Russell Falls).  
Lake St Clair – 30 minutes (unguided)
Nelson Falls – 30 minutes  
Franklin River – 5 to 30 minutes
Iron Blow Lookout and Horsetail Falls – 5 minutes 

Sunday, February 9- Gordon River Cruise to Tullah
Cruise along the magnificent Gordon River. This outstanding river cruise explores Macquarie Harbour as far as the imposing Hells Gates. You’ll explore the convict site of Sarah Island before venturing upriver and deeper into the World Heritage rainforests. Stroll amid the ancient huon pines on the boardwalk and enjoy lunch aboard the ship featuring Tasmanian produce. This afternoon, journey to the tiny town of Tullah. On a clear day, magnificent views across Lake Rosebery are possible of the rugged peaks of Mount Murchison. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a group dinner and relax in the lakeside chalet. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

Overnight: Tullah  

Walking options:   
Guests that prefer not to do the cruise- We could potentially take guests to Montezuma Falls – 3 hour walk and Henty Dunes (30-45 minutes)

Monday, February 10 - Tullah to Launceston via Cradle Mountain
Experience the iconic Cradle Mountain National Park. Your guide will explain several options to suit your preferences today. At Ronny Creek we’ll meander along the boardwalk to look for wombats. At Dove Lake, spend 2-3 hours circling the glacial carved lake beneath towering mountains and diverse alpine vegetation. Or take in the valley views from the Boat Shed or Glacial Rock. This afternoon, enjoy the “Town of Murals” at Sheffield, before arriving in Launceston in northern Tasmania.  Breakfast included

Overnight: Launceston  

Walking options:   
Depending on guests choice, up to 4 hours of walking today. Dove Lake Circuit is 6km, plus Ronny Creek etc. Marion’s Lookout is steep and challenging. 

Tuesday, February 11 - Bay of Fires to Bicheno
Visit Cataract Gorge, a scenic nature reserve just minutes from downtown Launceston. Travel to the East Coast via St Columba Falls. We’ll enjoy lunch in St Helens before exploring the Bay of Fires/larapuna. At Cosy Corner North, stroll along the white sands of the pristine beaches. Turquoise waters and rust-coloured boulders make this scenery remarkable. This evening we will stay in Bicheno, the East Coast’s loveliest coastal town and home to the little penguin.  Breakfast included

Overnight: Bicheno  

Walking options:   
Cataract Gorge – usually 1 hour
St Columba Falls – 1 hour
Bay of Fires – around 45 minutes to 1 hour (beach)

Wednesday, February 12 - Freycinet National Park to Eaglehawk Neck
Freycinet National Park is a coastal nature playground with secluded bays, pristine beaches, diverse forests, and pink granite mountains. At Honeymoon Bay, discover the stunning pink peaks of the Hazards Mountains. A walk to the Wineglass Bay Lookout provides postcard views of the curved white beach, while at Cape Tourville you can take in panoramic views of the Tasman Sea and Freycinet coastlines. We will continue south and see the scenery changes as we reach the gateway to the stunning Tasman Peninsula at Eaglehawk Neck. Dinner included

Overnight: Eaglehawk Neck

Walking options:   
Wineglass Bay – 45 minutes to 90 minutes (to the lookout or beach return)
Hazards Circuit (option which includes Wineglass) around 3.5 hours
Mt Amos (very challenging) – 3 hours
Cape Tourville – 30 minutes

Thursday, February 13 - Back to Hobart
EAGLEHAWK NECK > HOBART (B)
Wander down to the geological wonder of the Tessellated Pavement and explore other parts of the magnificent Tasman Peninsula such as Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen which form part of the Tasman National Park.  See Tasmanian devils and other wildlife at a nature sanctuary, before visiting the open-air museum of Port Arthur Historic Site. Explore the vast gardens and convict buildings in what is known as the best convict historic settlement in Australia and a World Heritage Site.  We’ll return to Hobart via the colonial village of Richmond, where our journey comes to an end.  Breakfast included

Walking Options:
3 hours walking around Port Arthur
1 hour at wildlife sanctuary
1 hour at geological sites 


Tour ends at 5:30pm

Included:
6 nights lodging (double occupancy)
Meals – 5 x Breakfast and 3 x Dinner
National Park Entry Fees, Guided Walks and free walking options
Pick-ups and drop offs at selected Hobart CBD locations. Airport dropoff upon request
Ground transportation
Local guide for some hikes
Steep Adventures host

Not included:
International airfare to Hobart
Visa
Meals where indicated (estimated to cost $175 - $250USD depending on choices)
Tips & Gratuities
Personal expenses
Some additional excursion options

Fundraising to Support AFCA

This trip to Tasmania will not only take you to an incredible part of the world but will also support the work of AFCA (www.AFCAids.org) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Each person is asked to raise a minimum of $1500, all of which will be used to support AFCA’s bee and garden projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Zimbabwe (https://www.afcaids.org/livelihoods-program/). This fundraising is above and beyond the cost of the trip (payable to Steep Adventures), flight, visa and any other ancillary costs.

 


 

Sacred Valley Tour in Peru

Explore the Sacred Valley and the Incan ruins throughout the region. We will begin with a tour of Cusco, this amazing town sits over 11,000 ft and is our base for exploring. Our tour will take us to incredible engineering feats and ancient ruins, the most famous being, Machu Picchu. We will take in the typical tourist sights, as well as some unique places with fewer crowds. Price based on a minimum of 10 participants. Registration closes on May 15, 2023.

Trip Dates: Tuesday, August 29 - Monday, September 4, 2023 (not including travel to/from Cusco)
Cost: $1390 (based on double occupancy)
Steep grade: 3/5 (high altitude)

Tuesday, August 29 - Arrive in Cusco and do a short walking tour around Cusco city. We will visit some of the local neighborhoods including the famous San Pedro Market. 
- Hotel in Cusco

Wednesday, August 30 - City Tour
A half day tour around Cusco to see the Inca sites within the city limits. Our guide will take us to explore 6 sites while giving us facts about the history and culture of these incredible places. We learn more about the Incas and Cusco while enjoying the vibrant environment of this magical city!
- Hotel in Cusco

Thursday, August 31- Sacred Valley
We will start our journey by visiting the town of Chinchero. Chinchero is located over 3,800 meters or 12,450ft (the highest town of the Sacred Valley). We will visit one of the famous textiles centers to see how these bright textiles are made and to give us an opportunity to purchase some of these beautifully handcrafted items. After that, we will visit the Inca site and the small church that belongs to the XVII century.

Next, we will drive to Urubamba district to enjoy a nice buffet lunch (not included). After we enjoy our lunch, we will continue our journey to the town of Ollantaytambo (2,790 meters or 9,153ft) to learn about the Inca site located there. It was the state of the Pachacutec Emperor who conquered the region, built the town and the ceremonial center we will learn more about. The Inca site in Ollantaytambo belongs to the 15th century!

We will head to the train station in Ollantaytambo to board our train which will take us to Aguas Calientes, which sits at the foot of Machu Picchu. We will check into our accommodations and enjoy a nice dinner in town (on your own).
- Hotel in Aguas Caliente

Friday, September 1 - Machu Picchu
The highlight of our trip, Machu Pichhu! We will wake up before the sun rises to catch one of the first buses that will take us up to Machu Picchu. Our guide will take us on a 2 hour tour which will include the history, culture, and fun facts about this magical and ancient place.  You will then have a little time to explore on your own or have the chance to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain (these need to be reserved in advance).

We will enjoy lunch back in Aguas Calientes and have a little time to relax before heading to the train to start our journey back to Cusco.
- Hotel in Cusco

Saturday, September 2 - Moray & Maras
We will take the morning train back to Ollantaytambo. Our driver will be waiting for us and we will make the trip to Moray and Maras. These two sites are much less traveled and you are able to truly soak in your surroundings without the large crowds. First, we will visit a very mysterious Inca site, Moray. It is still unclear what this group of terraces was used for and many experts have their hypothesis. Inca terraces were heavily used for agriculture but many experts believe that Moray was not used for agriculture but for experimenting.

After visiting Moray, you will visit the Maras salt mines. This site consists of thousands of individual salt ponds date back to the Incan times. Depending on the time of year you visit, these salt ponds will look vastly different because of the stages of the mining process they are in at that time. You will have the opportunity to purchase some of this locally mined salt which makes for great gifts to bring home!
-Hotel in Cusco

Sunday, September 3 - Perolniyoc Waterfall and Racaypata Inca site
We will head out to the Sacred valley in the morning to hike and explore a beautiful waterfall and Inca site. This is a moderate hike with amazing and breathtaking views!
- Hotel in Cusco

Monday, September 4 - Depart or continue on…
Begin your journey back to the States or continue exploring

Are you interested in this adventure, but want to go in 2024? Click here and get on the list.

Included:
6 nights lodging (double occupancy)
Breakfast at the hotel (when the schedule allows)
Ground transportation
English speaking tour guide
Entry fees
Steep Adventures host

Not included:
International airfare to Cusco
Meals (lunch & dinner)
Tips & Gratuities
Personal expenses


 

Salkantay Trek in Peru

Take the road less traveled on the remote Salkantay Trail ending in Aguas Caliente, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. Experience the beauty of the Andes and the wonder of the ancient ruins left by the Incas. This 37-mile trail will take us past glacier lakes, up a 15,255 ft mountain pass, and on clear nights seeing countless stars and constellations. To provide adequate time to acclimate to the altitude for the high moutain pass, we will spend some time prior to the trek exploring the Sacred Valley, volunteering at an orphanage, and seeing the Rainbow Mountains.

Trip Dates: Wednesday, September 6 - Friday, September 15, 2023 (not including travel to/from Cusco)
Cost: $1850 (based on double occupancy)
Steep grade: 5/5 (must be able to hike up to 10 miles with a backpack and at high elevation)

Wednesday, September 6 - Arrive in Cusco & half-day tour of Incan ruins
- Hotel in Cusco

Thursday, September 7 - Sacred Valley
We will leave the hotel early for a private tour of the Sacred Valley. Chinchero is located over 3,800 meters or 12,450ft (the highest town of the Sacred Valley). We will visit one of the famous textiles centers to see how they are made and to give you an opportunity to purchase some of these beautifully handcrafted textiles. After that, we will visit the Inca site and the small church that belongs to the XVII century.

Next, we visit the town of Ollantaytambo (2,790 meters or 9,153ft). This was the state of the Pachacutec Emperor who conquered the region, built the town and the ceremonial center we will learn more about. The Inca site in Ollantaytambo belongs to the 15th century!

After our visit, we will drive to the Urubamba district to enjoy a nice buffet lunch. We will then continue our journey towards the charming town of Pisac (2,970 meters or 9,744ft). You will have the opportunity to visit a jewelry factory to learn how the products are made and have an opportunity to purchase a piece of the handmade jewelry. After that, we will drive up to the Inca site which sits atop a hill at the entrance to the valley. We will explore and learn about these farming terraces and the surrounding Inca artifacts.
- Hotel in Cusco

Friday, September 8- Andahuaylillas - Volunteering at an orphanage
We will depart the hotel early and drive to Andahuaylillas. We will spend the day interacting with the children of Azul Wasi (a local orphanage). We will enjoy a BBQ in the fresh air surrounded by the magnificent Andes. After a day with the children, we will drive back to Cusco.

Andahuaylillas is a small, quaint town about 30 miles south of Cusco. It sits at approximately 10,262 feet elevation (about 1,000 feet lower than Cusco). The drive from Cusco to Andahuaylillas is serene and beautiful. Passing small towns, lakes and magnificent mountains along the way.
- Hotel in Cusco

Saturday, September 9 - Palccoyo Mountain (Rainbow Mountain)
We will start this full-day tour very early in the morning to beat the crowds. We will be able to take our time and soak in the vibrantly colored scenery as we go. The hike itself is short and gradual but the altitude can pose some challenges as it sits at 16,000 feet or 4900 meters. Palccoyo is part of the Red Valley, so along with the “rainbow mountain” you will be able to witness many peaks filled with different shades of red.
- Hotel in Cusco

Sunday, September 10 - Salkantay Trek begins
We will start our journey from the hotel in Cusco city bright and early in the morning. We will stop in Mollepata for a light breakfast and to use the facilities. After our quick stop, we will head to the starting point of our trek where we will meet our horsemen and their mules and horses. We will hike up to the awe-inspiring Humantay Lake and soak in the breathtaking views of this glacier lake. We will finish our day in Soraypampa which is in the glacier valleys.
-Tent

Monday, September 11 - Salkantay Trek continues
Today we will hike to highest point of the trek; Salkantay Pass (15,255ft/4,650m). The  3 hour ascent to the pass is quite challenging. When we finally reach the top, we will be rewarded with spectacular views. Salkantay mountain is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and is considered a sacred mountain. We will end our day in Chaullay Village, which sits quite a bit lower than Salkantay Pass at 9,514ft/2,900m.
- Tent

Tuesday, September 12 - Salkantay Trek continues
Today we will hike through the Santa Teresa Valley. We will be able to see serene waterfalls and beautiful wild orchids. We will have the opportunity to visit local coffee farms. You will also be able to taste coffee and buy locally sourced coffee beans to bring home!   The coffee from Santa Teresa is something you do not want to miss. Today you will also have the option to visit the hot springs of Colcalmayo.
- Tent

Wednesday, September 13 - Salkantay Trek final day
Today you will have the opportunity to enjoy a small part of the famous Inca Trail, which adds to the experience on this trek. We will visit the Inca site of Llactapata and learn some of the history. From this Inca Site, we will be able to see Machu Picchu in the distance. We will continue on until we reach the natural waterfall that generates electricity for the region of Cusco. We will end our night in Aguas Calientes, which sits at the foot of Machu Picchu, where we will refuel and enjoy a warm shower at our accommodation for the night.
- Hotel in Aguas Caliente

Thursday, September 14 - Machu Picchu
Today is the day we’ve been waiting for; MACHU PICCHU! We will start our day before the sun rises so we are able to board the first bus that will take us up to enjoy Machu Picchu before the crowds arrive. You will experience a 2 hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city full of history, culture and unknowns. After your guided tour, you will have the opportunity to climb Huaynapiccu or Machupicchu Mountain (additional charge and must be booked in advance as there is a limit of people they allow to climb). We will make our way back to Aguas Calientes to enjoy a nice lunch before our train departs and our journey back to Cusco begins.
- Hotel in Cusco

Friday, September 15 - Depart or continue on…
Begin your journey back to the States or continue exploring

Included:
6 nights hotel lodging (double occupancy) + 3 nights in a tent (double occupancy)
Ground transportation
English speaking tour guide
Entry fees
Steep Adventures host
Tent
Breakfast and meals while hiking

Not included:
International airfare to Cusco
Meals (lunch & dinner - except when hiking)
Tips & Gratuities
Personal expenses
Hiking gear (sleeping bag, pad, hiking poles, etc)

Are you interested in this adventure, but want to go in 2024? Click here and get on the list.


 

Individual Challenges

Allow Steep Adventures to create an adventure for a cause you are passionate about supporting. We have a number of adventure trips that are perfect for small groups that want to venture out on a unique adventure. Gather a friend or two for a trip of your dreams that is connected with a purpose beyond adventure alone.

These trips are different than our other adventure fundraising group trips. For one, these trips are customized for you and your small group. Secondly, you chose the cause or charity that you want to support and make all of the arrangements to create the fundraising details.

If a charity wants to work with Steep Adventures to create a unique fundraising opportunity, visit our page with details on the benefits of working with us to organize an adventure fundraising trip.

Here are a few of the unique challenges that Steep Adventures can create for you and your friends:

  • Tour du Mont Blanc - France, Italy, and Switzerland

  • Patagonia - Chile or Argentina

  • Kilimanjaro - Tanzania

  • Inca Trail, Salkantay Trail, Ausangate Trek, and others - Peru

  • Annapurna Base Camp - Nepal

  • Cycling in Thailand

  • Havasupai - Grand Canyon - Arizona

  • Cycling the C&O Canal/GAP trail - Washington, DC to Pittsburgh (or reverse)

Use the contact form or email us at: info@steepadventures.com to discuss your next adventure for a cause!

Ausangate Trek for PROMESA

rainbow-mountains

Ten trekkers will begin their journey hiking 57-miles around the Ausangate Peak in an effort to raise funds for the PROMESA school in Cusco, Peru on October 17th. PROMESA serves children throughout Cusco, providing a quality, Christian education, and has been recognized for educational attainment of their students.

Promesa has outgrown their current facility and purchased land to build a larger school, however there is currently no road to the land. The Ausangate Trek will support the building of a road to the new school location.

 

 
 

Pictures from Ausangate Trek and Peru

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Email questions to info@steepadventures.com

The Ausangate Trek is in partnership with:

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